Category: News

SHANNON Airport should be separated from Dublin Airport Authority control and placed under the management of a new company drawn from public bodies like Clare County Council and Shannon Development.

This is the chief recommendation given to Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar by Booz and Company – the team on international consultants hired by the Government to come up with a workable blueprint for the three state airports.

This landmark recommendation follows on from a month-long consultation process when interest groups and individuals were invited to make submissions to the consultants ahead of a November 30 deadline.

Now, The Clare People has learned that the report submitted by Booz and Company to Minister Varadkar in the past week has backed the biggest change in the airport’s 75-year history, ahead of a formal government decision that will be made at Cabinet level early in the new year.

Booz and Company have told Minister Varadkar that Shannon Airport, which has run up accumulated losses of € 24m over the past three years, is unsustainable in the current model.

The consultants warned that Shannon’s high cost base, plummeting passenger numbers that are expected to dip below 1.5m in 2011 meant that it might not have “a viable future” if the current model was maintained.

As a result the recommendation is that Shannon will be separated from the DAA, with responsibility transferred to a new public holding company, with business interests coming in to take over the management of the airport, with local public bodies like Clare County Council and Shannon Airport also having an “ownership” stake in the former hub of the aviation world.

According to Booz and Company, Shannon should maintain its international airport status, but that it that extra business ventures would have to be developed to boost traffic numbers and activity at the airport that last year saw passenger numbers decline by 37 per cent.

The consultants have highlighted the development of cargo traffic as key, a prospect that has been brought closer by Lynxs Cargo decision to establish a hub in Shannon.

Other suggestions that have been identified in the report tabled with Minister Varadakar include developing aeronautical businesses at the Shannon Free Zone and private plane traffic through the airport.

The current status at Shannon has been in place since 2004 – a half-way house whereby Cork and Shannon have their own boards but have limited autonomy from the DAA.

When he launched the consultation process on Shannon’s future in October, Minister Varadkar said the current status quo at the airport “cannot continue indefinitely”.

A STOCK of 35,000 sandbags is available to Clare County Council as the county braces itself for potential flooding. Heavy rainfall and increased river levels have heightened public anxiety over floods with the memory of the 2009 flood event still fresh in the minds of many homeowners and businesses.

In that instance, thousands of euros worth of damaged was caused and dozens of homes were evacuated as families saw their homes destroyed by rapidly rising floodwaters.

Clare County Council says the experience of 2009 has led to an improvement in the effectiveness of the implementation of contingency plans.

Yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council heard that there are people in rural parts of the county “that don’t sleep at night” because of a flood fears. The comment was made by Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) who said there is huge concern among people in Ruan over flash flooding.

Cllr John Crowe (FG), who tabled a motion on the Council’s plans for dealing with floods, said river levels around Sixmilebridge are “two foot” higher than they were in November 2009. He told the meeting that heavy floods are now a real concern. “The way the rain is falling we might not be too far away,” he said.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the council’s capacity to deal with emergency weather events had significantly improved since 2009. “We can’t predict what’s going to happen but we can plan,” he added.

In a report to councillors, Nora Kaye, acting Director of Services, Planning, Land Use and Transport, explained, “In total, the council has a stock of approximately 35,000 sandbags all of which are located strategically in the various area depots.

“The vast majority of these sandbags are stocked in a number of de- pots in the Ennis Area because of the continuing vulnerability of so many areas within Ennis Town and environs – notwithstanding the fact that some flood relief schemes are being planned or are under construction in relation to most of these areas.”

Ms Kaye continued, “Of the above total, approximately 8,000 sandbags are distributed across the various engineering areas outside Ennis. Approximately 3,000 bags in all are filled. Well over 2,000 tonnes of sand and other material is stocked strategically and more sandbags will be filled between now and Christmas.”

Ms Kaye said that 30 pumps are readily available at various locations throughout the county. She added, “Notwithstanding the fact that it is impossible to predict the characteristics or intensity of any particular flood event, the overall level of awareness, knowledge and response capacity in respect of such situations as improved significantly in recent years and this feeds in to out present contingency plans in a very strategic and significant manner.”

A NORTH Clare developer who had a € 10.5 million judgement order by Anglo Irish Bank secured against him in October has said he is in advanced negotiations with NAMA to work out a business plan. Airtricity applied to a court for committal for failing to comply with an instalment order imposed on John Flanagan, of Ballyvarragh House, Doolin.

Sean Costello, a business development manager with Airtricity, told Ennistymon District Court on Wednesday that € 16,784 was due. He said that no payments were made on foot of an instalment order. Payments of € 1,000 a month were to have been paid, but none had been made, he said. Solicitor Jim Finnegan, for Airtricity, said he was seeking an order for committal.

Mr Flanagan told the court that he had been a developer during the boom. He told Judge Aeneas McCarthy that Anglo Irish Bank secured a judgment of € 10.5 million against him in October. He said that he has not had income since September 2008 and has outgoings including a mortgage, rent, housekeeping and food.

He said that his wife is working part-time and earns € 166 a week, which, along with carer’s allowance for a child and children’s allowance, pays the bills.

“My wife deals with it. She keeps the house going,” Mr Flanagan told the court.

The solicitor told the court that a private investigator was hired by Airtricity. He asked Mr Flanagan was he in talks with NAMA. Mr Flanagan replied, “Yes, advanced negotiations. We are trying to advance a business plan.” He said he is not receiving a salary at the moment but expects to in the future. He said he anticipates that the negotiations will be finalised in January or February.

He told Mr Finnegan that he does not have any assets to sell. Asked did he propose to pay the money due to Airtricity, he said, “There was a judgement order secured against me but I wasn’t in a position to meet that.” He said that he was in regular contact with Airtricity in relation to the money due and said he has made nominal payments of € 18 per month.

He told the court that he has two girls employed part-time in an office in Liscannor for a company that manages property. “I don’t get any income from that company,” he said.“I receive no income from any company whatsoever,” said Mr Flanagan.

On hearing that Mr Flanagan hopes to have a business plan finalised early in 2012, the judge said he would adjourn the case until February.

NEARLY 600 people in Clare face the prospect of a return to the dole queues in the coming months as the future of Community Employment Schemes around the county are left hanging in the balance this week. The Clare People has learned that 560 people in Clare are directly dependent on the Community Employment Schemes for work, while FÁS have confirmed that the jobs programme provides jobs and training opportunities “in every corner of Clare”. Last week’s Budget took the unprecedented decision to abolish the FÁS operated jobs support scheme and while they have been since given a temporary stay of execution, fears have been expressed locally that the county’s 32 schemes will begin the process of winding down operations over the next few months.

“This is an anti-rural Ireland measure, it just gets worse” blasted Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes.

“Communities in rural Clare depend on the Community Employment Schemes to help them survive. They are the only light in some communities. The programme as we know it is gone because the payment per worker has been reduced from € 1500 to € 500,” he added. “These schemes go into every part of Clare,” a FÁS spokesperson told

LOCAL councillors have criticised comments from the Minister for Transport, Leo Vardakar, stating that Shannon Airport will make an € 8m loss this year.

Fianna Fáíl councillor Pat McMahon told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that there is widespread concern among staff at the airport about the statement.

The Newmarket-on-Fergus councillor described the figures as “highly debatable” and the product of “creative accounting”. He was speaking as councillors debated a motion tabled by Cllr McMahon and fellow Fianna Fáil councillor, Pat Daly.

The motion states, “We request the council to make contact with the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan TD, and urge him to set up an all-party forum of Oireachtas members and representatives of the councils from the West and MidWest, seeking the continuation of Shannon Airport as a top-class international airport”.

Some councillors expressed support for the proposal though some said a forum was not the best option.

Cllr Daly told the meeting that elected representatives should have a say in the future of Shannon Airport, which he said was suffering from the absence of a clear marketing strategy. He described Shannon as a “dying airport”.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said Shannon might not be making a loss at all when depreciation and loan charges are taken into account.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the problems at Shannon Airport stretch back 10 to 15 years. Cllr Cathal Crowe (FG) said the airport has “everything going for it” but a new management structure needs to be put in place. He said Shannon should be spoken about in positive and optimistic terms.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) urged all Clare TDs to put political differences aside and work together to secure the future of Shannon Airport. He said Fianna Fáíl TD, Timmy Dooley, should use his “years of experience in government” to help his counterparts in Labour and Fine Gael.

Concern was also raised over the number of US-bound flights using pre-clearance facilities at Shannon. Cllr McMahon tabled a motion stating that the council seek “detailed information from the Department of Transport on the potential for further development of pre-clearance type facilities at Shannon Airport.”

AN invitation has been extended to the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins to be named a freeman of Ennis. Ennis Town Council has written to the President offering him the freedom of the town. Last week’s monthly meeting heard that the council has not yet received an official response. If the Clare-raised former Labour TD does accept the offer, he would follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali. The former World Boxing Champion was named the first ever freeman of Ennis when he visited the town in September 2009. Councillor Paul O’Shea (Lab) raised the issue of conferring the honourary title on Mr Higgins at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Town Clerk Leonard Cleary told the meeting that the Council had not received a response from Áras an Uachtaráin. Mr Cleary also confirmed that the President would not be attending an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of Glór in Ennis. In a letter, Aifric Hyland, secretariat, thanked the council for the invitation. She explained, “Your thoughtfulness in extending the invitation is very much appreciated but the President regrets that, due to the extent of his commitments, it is not possible for him to accept. “The President sends his good wishes and trusts that you will appreciate the reasons for his unavailability on this occasion”. Mr Higgins has strong Clare connections. He was raised by his uncle and aunt at their home in Ballycar and went to school in St Flannan’s College. Prior to taking up a job with the ESB in Galway, he worked in Progress International in Shannon.

HEAVY rain and high winds are forecast for the West Coast this week and Clare is on high flooding alert, as the county seeks to prevent the disasters of 2009 when so much of the county was under water.

Clare County Council are monitoring river levels as the weather worsens and have urged householders to be vigilant in case of flash flooding.

“Residents of the county can visit www.flooding.ie to familiarise themselves with the range of actions that can be taken in advance of, during and after flooding events,” Ennis Town Manager Ger Dollard told The Clare People this week.

A JURY has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a Limerick woman who died following a single-vehicle accident at Hurler’s Cross earlier this year.

Aileen Page died when the silver Peugeot 206 she was driving left the road and collided with a tree on a section of the M18 near Shannon.

Ms Page (36), from Beverly Close, Raheen, Limerick, had been on her way to work when the accident occurred in the early hours of May 7.

An inquest into her death at Clare Coroner’s Court last week heard that neither road conditions nor excessive speed were factors in the accident.

Agnieska Kusko came upon the accident when returning from the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick. She rang the emergency services telling them that she thought someone was dead at the scene. Ms Kusko attempted to slow oncoming cars prior to the arrival of Gardaí.

A doctor confirmed Ms Page’s death at the scene.

Sgt Paul Slattery, who attended the scene, told the inquest that the “vehicle had apparently left the road and struck a tree before coming to rest on the road”.

Garda Michael Reddy, PSV investigator, stated that while the road surface was wet, it was not wet enough to collect surface water. He said the car sustained severe damage “due to multiple tree strikes on the driver’s side”.

Garda Reddy said there was no blow-out or tyre failure prior to the collision and no evidence was found of any fault with the car that could have contributed to the collision. He said Ms Page had worn a seatbelt. He explained that road conditions did not contribute to the collision; no defects were found with the car and there was no evidence of excessive speed.

Garda Reddy said it was not possible to establish the cause of the car going out of the driver’s control.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the medical cause of death was acute cardio respiratory failure consistent with injuries caused by a road traffic accident.

She said the only appropriate verdict was accidental death or death consistent with a road traffic accident. A jury returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the medical evidence.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to the parents and husband of Ms Page. She described the death as “sad and tragic loss” of a woman on her way to work.

Insp John Galvin extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the Gardaí.

THERE will be no increase in rates in Kilrush in 2012, but local authority chiefs have stopped short of implementing an appeal from councillors in the West Clare capital for businesses in the town to be given a boost by reducing rates for the coming year.

Rates for the new year are to remain at 2011 levels, with Town Manager Nora Kaye telling in her estimates of expenses for the next 12 months – that will be debated at a special budget meeting this Thursday – that she is “proposing a zero per cent increase in commercial rates, being mindful of the current economic climate and the difficulties that same poses for local businesses”.

Ahead of the meeting, which will reveal that Kilrush Town Council will have a budget of € 1,348,896 in 2012 as opposed to € 1,387,843 in 2011, Ms Kaye has also told councillors that “due to the current climate, an increase has been provided in refunds and irrecoverable rates”.

The council decision not to cut rates for cash-strapped businesses in 2012 comes after a year that has been described as “very problematic” when it came to the collection of rates in 2011.

“Payments by customers continue to be very problematic. Rates collection at June 30, 2011 stood at 31 per cent in comparison to 39 per cent at June 30, 2010,” Town Clerk, John Corry revealed in September.

“Kilrush Town Council is dependent on rates income to maintain its operations as it represents 38.4 per cent of annual income. The slowing payment pattern highlighted above has resulted in a considerable negative impact on cash flow.

“Kilrush Town Council is acutely aware of the commercial difficulties which rate payers are experiencing, and has adopted a practical approach in terms of payment plans to facilitate rate payers.

“However, where customers fail to engage to deal with amounts outstanding, recovery of the debt by legal means becomes necessary,” he added.

Also included in the estimates is provision for the fact that “Kilrush Town Council’s allocation of the Local Government Fund will be cut by 8.98 per cent for 2012”.

It is also forecast that income for the council from parking will be down by € 45,000 in 2012. This is because of concessions that have been implemented in the town centre.

A KILLALOE man has received a three-month prison sentence after failing to pay compensation for his part in a burglary in the town in January.

James Tuohy (23) with an address at 21 Clarisford, Killaloe, was convicted at a sitting of Killaloe District Court in Ennis last week.

Tuohy and a co-accused, Vincent O’Reilly, had been ordered to pay compensation after both men were involved in the burglary of the Celtic Cat Jewelery Shop in January.

O’Reilly (21) with addresses at 4 The Rise, Cullenagh, Ballina, Tipperary and Fossabeg Scariff, did pay compensation and received a suspended sentence.

Solicitor for Tuohy, Tara Godfrey said her client would be in a position to pay compensation in a week’s time.

She said a change of address had lead to a delay in the receipt of a social welfare payment.

She told the court that at the time when the burglary was committed, Tuohy had been going through a “very traumatic” period due to his family circumstances.

She explained that he had attended the services of consultant psychiatrist and been prescribed medication. She described her client as a “very vulnerable young man”.

She said that Tuohy wanted to pay compensation but apart from social welfare payments, he did not have access to any other form of financial support.

The court heard that on the day of the burglary, Tuohy had taken medication and drank cans of Budweiser.

“He appears to have committed the offence when he was of an unstable mind”, added Ms Godfrey.

The court heard that Tuohy received a suspended sentence in December (2010) for a public order offence.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that Tuohy had committed burglary and been ordered to pay compensation, “He either pays it or he doesn’t”, he added. He noted that the accused “has convictions going back to 2008”.

He convicted Tuohy and imposed a three-month prison sentence. Judge McCarthy added that he would not impose the suspended sentence handed down last December. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Solicitor for O’Reilly, Christopher Lynch told the court that his client was in a position to pay compensa- tion.

He said that since the offence was committed in January, his client has moved away from Killaloe.

He said O’Reilly did have issues with drink and drug abuse but has now sorted his life out and has enrolled in an adult education course in Nenagh.

“He’s keeping himself out of difficulty”, Mr Lynch told the court.

Judge McCarthy convicted O’Reilly and imposed a six-month prison sentence.

He suspended the sentence for a period of two years on condition that O’Reilly be of good behavior.